Reloadable live ammunition for toy guns



Filed Feb. 10, 1961 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 3,037,429 RELOADABLE LIVE ANHWUNITION FOR TOY GUNS Talley W. Nichols, Circle N Ranch, Jacksonville, Tex. Filed Feb. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 88,533 11 Claims. (Cl. 102-41) This invention relates to ammunition for toy guns, ad more particularly to ammunition of the live type in which a detonator cap is employed as the propellant to fire a projectile or bullet in a realistic manner.

Simulated live ammunition of various kinds has been proposed heretofore for use in toy guns, with which caps can be used to improve the realistic appearance and action of such toys. One such device provides ammunition of realistic appearance having a cartridge and bullet arrangement in which a cap can be inserted for firing, the bullet being constructed to remain in the gun on fin'ng, while means is provided for allowing the escape of smoke through the barrel to give the illusion of actual firing of the bullet. Various types of spring actuated mechanism have been used to eject bullets from toy guns to simulate actual firing and it has also been proposed to provide ammunition employing caps and in which the bullet is actually ejected from the barrel on firing.

A serious deterrent to use heretofore of live ammunition in toy cap pistols, and the like, has been that no satisfactory means has been available by which the propelling force exerted on the bullet could be accurately adjusted within limits which are safe for use by children. A further difficulty encountered in providing reloadable live ammunition for toy guns is that no method has been developed by which such ammunition could be rendered safe against the danger of overloading.

The present invention has for an important object the provision of reloadable live ammunition for toy guns in which the bullet is ejected from the gun on firing, yet which is safe for use by children.

Another object of the invention is to provide reloadable ammunition for toy guns making use of detonating caps and in which means is provided for limiting the discharging force exerted on the bullet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of reloadable ammunition for toy guns in which means is incorporated for preventing the danger of causing injury due to intentional or accidental overloading of the ammunition.

Another object of the invention is to provide reloadable live ammunition for toy guns having a cartridge case and a bullet which is adapted to be ejected on firing and also having a bullet holding and cap retaining and detonating element which is designed to limit the propelling force exerted on the bullet and to allow the escape of expanding gases from the cartridge when the ammunition is fired.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed description, constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein- FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in cross-section illustrating a preferred emobidment of the invention and showing the ammunition in place in the firing chamber of a toy gun ready for firing;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, central, cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a preferred embodiment of the ammunition of the invention in loaded condition;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

3,87,429 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view showing the parts of the ammunition as illustrated in FIGURE 2 in disassembled relation and illustrating the manner in which the ammunition may be loaded.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention is disclosed herein in connection with its use in toy guns of the cap pistol type, such as that illustrated in FIGURE 1, designated generally at G, having a barrel :10, provided with a firing chamber 12 which is formed at its forward end with an internal annular shoulder :14. The gun G is also provided with firing pin and trigger mechanism of the usual type designed to detonate caps.

The ammunition of the invention comprises a cartridge case 16 within which a combined bullet holding and cap retaining element 18 is fitted, whose inner end engages a cap 20 positioned within and against the bottom of the cartridge case, and a projectile or bullet 22 which fits into the outer end of the element 118.

The cartridge case 16 is of usual construction preferably formed of metal, such as brass, of cylindrical shape to fit within the firing chamber 12 and having a bottom wall 24- which is then positioned to be engaged by the firing pin of the gun to detonate the cap 20. The cartridge case is formed with the usual external, annular rim 25 around the bottom wall 24 which engages the gun at the rear end face of the firing chamber to limit the distance to which the cartridge may be inserted into the chamber in the usual manner.

The bullet holding and cap retaining element 18 is of hollow, generally tubular construction, formed of moldable plastic, or other suitable material having the requisite physical properties for the purpose, and of generally cylindrical, longitudinally tapering shape. This holder element has an external, annular rim portion 23 at its forward end which is of a size to fit within the chamber 12 in engagement with the internal shoulder 14, and is formed with longitudinally extending, external ribs 30 which taper longitudinally from the forward end of the element toward the rear end thereof. The ribs 30 are shaped for wedging engagement with the surrounding wall of the cartridge case, when the element 18 is inserted in the case to securely hold the element in place in contact with the detonator cap 20 positioned on the internal face of the bottom 24- of the case in position to be detonated when the bottom of the case is struck by the firing pin of the gun. The inner end of the holder element 18 may be flat and smooth or may be provided with annular ribs such as those shown at 39 so that the cap 20 will be securely held against the bottom of the cartridge case to be detonated when the firing pin strikes the bottom wall 24. The ribs 30 extend beyond the open end of the cartridge case when the holder is in position in the case and serve to form escape passageways, such as that shown at 32 in FIGURE 2, between the element 18 and the surrounding wall of the cartridge case, between the ribs, through which the expanding gases may escape upon detonation of the cap.

The element 18 has an internal bore 34' which opens at its outer end into an enlarged, inwardly tapering counterbore 36, and which is in communication with the exterior through the bottom wall of the element through a small central passageway 38, through which expanding gases may enter the bore upon firing of the cap.

The bullet or projectile 22 is of hollow construction having a rounded forward end, is open at the rear end, and is of rearwardly tapering shape to fit the internal taper of the counterbore 36. The bullet is preferably of somewhat thin-walled construction, formed of molded plastic, or other similar material, and the maximum external diameter of the bullet is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the barrel of the gun, so that the bullet firing pin of the gun strikes the case. then inserted in the counterbore 36 of the holder, in the r 3 has a loose fit in the barrel, whereby further escape of expanding gases from the firing of the cap may take place as the bullet moves outwardly through the barrel.

The bullet is preferably made of a moldable plastic material which is relatively soft and pliable so that the thickness of the wall of the bullet may be predetermined in such a manner that in the event that the ammunition is overloaded, the bullet will be expanded, due to its thin-walled, expansible character, to cause the bullet to tightly fit the barrel, thus causing the bullet to stick in the barrel and preventing discharging of the bullet on firing. The front end portion of the bullet may also be made thinner to provide a weakened portion, at the lo cation indicated at 40, adapted to be ruptured by the expansive force of the gases on the bullet when the ammunition is greatly overloaded, in which event the forward end of the bullet will burst to allow the rapid escape of excess pressure and the bullet will remain in the holder upon firing.

From the above described construction and arrange ment of the'parts, it will be seen that because of the somewhat loose fitting of the holder '18 in the cartridge case, expanding gases from the detonation of the cap may escape from the case, so that only a small part of the force of the explosion is effective to eject the bullet.

In making use of the ammunition of the invention, a cap 20 is placed in the cartridge case 16 and the holder element 18 inserted to press the cap into contact with the bottom of the case in position to be detonated when the The bullet 22 is manner shown in FIGURE 2, to complete the loading of the ammunition. The ammunition in this condition is then placed in the firing chamber -12, in the usual manner to load the gun, the forward end of the holder 18 being then positioned to engage the internal shoulder 14 and the bullet 22 extending forwardly into the barrel beyond the shoulder.

With the gun thus loaded, the firing pin of the gun will strike the bottom of the cartridge case upon pulling the trigger, in the usual manner, to detonate the cap and fire the bullet. Upon detonation of the cap, a large part of the expanding gases may escape from the cartridge case through the passageways 32 between the cartridge case and holder 18, such gases leaking into the firing chamber and barrel. A portion of the expanding gases, however, will enter the holder 18 through the passageway 38 to eject the bullet 22.

Because of the relatively large clearance provided between the bullet and the internal surface of the barrel of the gun, further escape of the expanding gases may take place around the bullet as the same is ejected, thus further reducing the force exerted on the bullet.

It will be apparent that by regulating the size of the passageway 38 the force exerted on the bullet by a cap of the usual size may be adjusted to limit the velocity of the bullet. Moreover, in the event that the user should attempt to overload the cartridge by inserting more than one cap, the holder 18 will extend forwardly from the case to a greater distance, to increase the. size of the passageways 32,'to allow the more rapid escape of gas, thus preventing a substantial increase in the velocity of the bullet on firing.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides reloadable live ammunition for toy guns, which presents a very realistic appearance and action in use, which is relatively safe for use by children and which is designed to prevent misuse by overloading.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a specific embodiment of the same, but it will be understood that this is intended by way of illustration only. and that various changes can be made in the construction of the parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. V

Having thus clearly shown and describedthe invention,

what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having a longitudinally inwardly tapering bore whose outer end is open and an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a hollow, externally tapered bullet fitted into the outer end of said bore and whose inner end, is open to the interior of the element.

2. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having aclosed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a holder element removably disposed in the case having a longitudinally inwardly tapering bore whose outer end is open and an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, said element having an internally reduced portion forming a restricted passageway through which gases may flow from the interior of the case into the element, and a hollow, externally tapered bullet fitted into the outer end of the element and whose inner end is open to the interior of the element.

3. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the casing in contact with said closed end, a hollow holder element having an open outer end removably disposed in the case and whose inner end is in engagement with the cap, external ribs formed on the element in position for engagement with the inner surface of the case to form passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, said element having an opening of reduced diameter in its inner end through which gases from the interior of the casing may enter the element, and a hollow bullet closing the outer end of the element and whose inner end .is open to the interior of the element.

4. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped toprovide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a hollow bullet disposed in the outer end of the element whose outer end is closed and whose inner end is open to the interior of the element.

5. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, said element having an internally reduced portion forming a restricted passageway through which gases may fiow from the interior of the case into the element, and a hollow bullet disposed in the outer end of the element whose outer end is closed and Whose inner end is open to the interior of the element.

6. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular .cartridge case having-a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the casing in contact with said closed end, a

hollow holder element having an open outer end removp-asing may enter the element, and a hollow bullet disposed in the outer end of the element whose outer end is closed and whose inner end is open to the interior of the element.

7. Reloadable live ammunition for use in a toy gun having a barrel and a firing chamber whose diameter is larger than the bore of the barrel to provide an internal annular shoulder at the forward end of the chamber, comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed rear end, a detonator cap in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end positioned in engagement with the cap and whose outer end extends forwardly beyond the forward end of the case in position to engage said shoulder when the firing chamber is loaded, said element being shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a bullet disposed in the outer end of the element.

8. Reloadable live ammunition for use in a toy gun having a barrel and a firing chamber whose diameter is larger than the bore of the barrel to provide an internal annular shoulder at the forward end of the chamber, comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed rear end, a detonator cap in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end positioned in engagement with the cap and whose outer end extends forwardly beyond the forward end of the case in position to engage said shoulder when the firing chamber is loaded, said element being shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a hollow bullet whose rear end is open disposed in the outer end of the element whose forward end extends beyond said chamber into the bore and Whose external diameter is smaller than the interial diameter of said bore.

9. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a hollow bullet having a thin wall formed of plastic material disposed in the outer end of the element whose outer end is closed and whose inner end is open to the interior of the element.

10. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a hollow bullet disposed in the outer end of the element whose outer end is closed and formed with a Wall portion of reduced thickness to allow the bullet to burst when the internal pressure in the bullet exceeds a predetermined pressure, the inner end of the bullet being open to the interior of the element.

11. Ammunition for a toy gun comprising a tubular cartridge case having a closed end, a detonator cap disposed in the case in contact with said closed end, a tubular holder element removably disposed in the case having an inner end portion positioned in engagement with the cap and shaped to provide passages for the escape of gases from the case forwardly about the exterior of the element, and a hollow, thin-walled bullet formed of expandible plastic material disposed in the outer end of the element whose outer end is closed and whose inner end is open to the interior of the element and having an outer end wall portion of reduced thickness to allow the bullet to burst when the internal pressure in the bullet exceeds a predetermined pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,812,713 Fitzsimmons Nov. 12, 1957 2,950,680 Mills Aug. 30, 1960 3,031,966 Metzger May 1, 1962 

1. AMMUNITION FOR A TOY GUN COMPRISING A TUBULAR CARTRIDGE CASE HAVING A CLOSED END, A DETONATOR CAP DISPOSED IN THE CASE IN CONTACT WITH SAID CLOSED END, A TUBULAR HOLDER ELEMENT REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN THE CASE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY INWARDLY TAPERING BORE WHOSE OUTER END IS OPEN AND AN INNER END PORTION POSITIONED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CAP AND SHAPED TO PROVIDE PASSAGES FOR THE ESCAPE OF GASES FROM THE CASE FORWARDLY ABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF THE ELEMENT, AND A HOLLOW, EXTERNALLY TAPERED BULLET FITTED INTO THE OUTER END OF SAID BORE AND WHOSE INNER END IS OPEN TO THE INTERIOR OF THE ELEMENT. 